Can Oregon Ballet Theatre Take On Race?
Choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie in rehearsal for his world premiere work, set to music by Portland's own Kenji Bunch. Grand Moultrie's piece is one of four works on Oregon Ballet Theatre's IMPACT program, running April 16 - 25, 2015 at the Newmark Theatre.
From grassroots advocacy like #BlackLivesMatter to Starbuck's short-lived "Race Together" campaign, a national dialogue on race appears to be reigniting. Now, Oregon Ballet Theatre is staging its own version of the conversation.
On April 3, Artistic Director Kevin Irving and Executive Director Dennis Buehler join renowned NYC choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie (an OBT guest artist this season) for a City Club Friday Forum on how OBT might plié its way into a deeper community connection.
Moultrie, who joins Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato from April 16–25 for OBT's 25th anniversary show Impact (Duato's Rassemblement will deal expressly with the "legacies of slavery and oppression), is perhaps best known for his work with Savion Glover and Beyoncé. Moultrie also will preiere new work, in a collaboration with fEARnoMUSIC's Kenji Bunch; his genre-jumping style reflects his belief that "ballet dancers now are not just one thing anymore."
OBT's directors say that diversifying their audience is a key goal. For Irving, it is not enough that OBT shows be "admired for their beauty and technical achievement; they may just compel us to consider the world in a different way."
"A Leap Forward: Oregon Ballet Theatre's New Vision for Community Engagement"
City Club Friday Forum with Darrell Grand Moultrie
Apr 3 at 12:15 pm, City Club of Portland
Martina Chavez in rehearsal with choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie for his world premiere work, set to music by Portland's own Kenji Bunch. Grand Moultrie's piece is one of four works on Oregon Ballet Theatre's IMPACT program, running April 16 - 25, 2015 at the Newmark Theatre.
"A Leap Forward: Oregon Ballet Theatre's New Vision for Community Engagement"
City Club Friday Forum with Darrell Grand Moultrie
Apr 3 at 12:15 pm, City Club of Portland
